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I think the above refers to 'special presentation' or finding out the 'fate of the cheque' - it costs about a tenner, but only tells you whether or not the cheque WILL clear, it doesn't make it any quicker. Some banks may let you draw against the cheque before it clears though (Barclays I think? - not sure) although the risk is then that it would bounce once you had spent it.

I used to work in a solicitors accounts department, and we paid £10 for 'special clearance' on a personal cheque where we knew it wouldn't bounce the following day. However, we also used to pay in cheques as 'cleared funds' - these were ones that were guaranteed not to bounce such as drafts from banks/BS, other solicitors (cos of the regulations) etc.

I would speak to your bank because a cheque from customs & excise to my view is 'cleared funds' because it's not going to bounce - but probably depends which bank you're with...

which bank is the chque from - i am with the natwest and I find them quite good at clearing cheques. Maybe if you explain to them and point out that it is a Customs and Excise cheque and hardly likely to bounce they may be sympathetic.

I get my cheques cashed and out of £250.00 I normally come out with £233.00, but if you are desperate for the cash it is well worth doing, I have asked Barclays before if you can pay to get the cheque cleared faster and they told me no, that was a couple of mths ago,

when you bank it, make sure you go through the cashier, rather than the quick deposit system, as often cheques deposited this way don't get picked up until the end of the day, and go into the next day's business.

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